Mayfield Preview

Jack Sampson, Rochdale Mayfield

Mayfield are back on the road on Saturday, with a near three hour journey through Cumbria to face Egremont Rangers.

The Cumbrians are sitting on the same points as Mayfield with just two wins to their credit from eight outings.

Mayfield will be hoping that last week’s scrappy victory over form team St Pats will be the spark they were looking for to get their season started. As in previous weeks they played some great rugby only for indiscipline to put the result under threat.

Saturday’s game should be a cracker with the big Cumbrian pack out to knock Mayfield out of their stride right from the off, but the Rochdale outfit know they have enough class and skill to be able to withstand whatever they throw at them.

Armed with the knowledge that most visitors have just made a two hours plus trip the hosts invariably make a strong start to their home games so Mayfield will have to be up right from the off.

The forwards like Liam Whalley, Callum Marriott and Aidy Gleeson will have to absorb a lot of pressure and be prepared to do the hard yards to get field position. If they do that job well there is little doubt that Callum Ogden and Sam Butterworth will be able to orchestrate the plays needed to get the points on the board.

Dave Harmer also takes his NWML side on the road with a much shorter trip to Leyland Warriors.

Warriors are on the same points as Mayfied thanks to one win and two draws compared to Mayfield two wins.

Last week’s defeat at home against Pilkingtons was disappointing for the side after giving up a two try lead and like their senior counterparts giving away far too much ball through indiscipline and unforced errors.

Harmer said: “It’s frustrating because we are playing some good stuff and have some great players in the side but these lapses in concentration are costing us dearly. On Saturday we have a chance to set things straight and get back to winning ways.”

Fixtures, 14/05/16
NCL prem, Egremont v Mayfield kko 2.30
NWML d2 Leyland V Mayfield Ko 2.30